Brain Packet
1. What is phrenology? What led Gall to come up with this theory? What
contributions did Gall make to the study of the brain?
2. Explain the role of neurotransmitters in the neurons ability to generate its own
action potential.
3. Specific neurotransmitters have specific effects on behavior and emotions. Please
look at the following neurotransmitters and discuss their link to different
psychiatric symptoms. Make sure to add whether or not it involves an
undersupply of the neurotransmitter, oversupply, or excessive activity of the
neurotransmitter. (Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine, GABA,
Glutamate).
4. What are endorphins? What is their role in the brain?
5. What happens when a person abuses heroin or morphine, nicotine or alcohol?
What accounts for the most unpleasant side effects?
6. What is the difference between drugs that are agonists and drugs that are
antagonists? How do they work?
7. Provide a one sentence explanation for each of the new vocabulary terms.
a. Nervous System
b. Central Nervous System
c. Peripheral Nervous System
d. Nerves
e. Sensory neurons
f. Interneurons
g. Motor Neurons
h. Somatic nervous system
i. Peripheral nervous system
j. Autonomic nervous system
k. Sympathetic nervous system
l. Parasympathetic nervous system
m. Endocrine system
n. Hormones
o. Adrenal gland
p. Pituitary glands
8. Name two devices that enable us to provide an image of the brain? How does this
equipment work?
9. What are the lower-level brain structures and what are their functions?
10. What is the role of the thalamus?
11. Within the Limbic System, what is the role of the hippocampus?
12. What happens if we electrically stimulate the amygdale? What is the amygdala’s
role in rage and fear in the processing of emotional memories?
13. Within the hypothalamus is a “reward center”. How is the neurotransmitter
dopamine associated with the reward center? What is the reward deficiency
syndrome?
14. Discuss the Phineas Gage story and what happens when there is frontal lobe
damage?
15. Discuss what parts of the brain are involved with language. Make sure to include
the following: aphasia, broca’s area, motor cortex, angular gyrus, visual cortex,
wernicke’s area. Make sure that you state what deficits you would see when there
is damage in these various places.
16. What is neural plasticity? Make sure that you include the Brandi Binder story.
17. What are the hemispheric specializations between the left and right brain?
18. What are the split-brain patients and what have they taught us about brain
functioning?
19. Describe the parts of the neuron.
20. What is the reason for Multiple Sclerosis, Guillian Barre Syndrome, &
Parkinson’s Disease.
21. What is the role of pain and endorphins?
22. What does critical period for development mean? Please explain this with regards
to eyesight, hearing, and language.
23. How does a child’s brain change when Mom has a depressive disorder?
24. What is interocular transfer? Describe Sperry’s famous experiment and what we
learned from it?
25. Describe the specialized function of the left and right hemisphere.